Chandler's Senior Pics

I feel so honored when I am asked to take pictures for someone.   I am no pro and I am always extremely nervous, but I must say it is so much fun to do senior pictures.  Chandler was but a  beehive when I met her.  Now she is all grown up.  

RV'in at Rushmore

Jason's dream come true.  He has been wanting to rent an RV and take the family on the road, and the Mauger's invitation to see Mt. Rushmore was the perfect excuse.  

Never did we expect a trip to North Dakota would include alligators, a flood, bears and 100 stitches.

Gideon in his ride.

Papa Ed is the most patient person I know.  He is always willing to take a minute and let the kids ask tons of questions.  He just keeps answering and seems to enjoy the one-on-one time.  I could certainly take a lesson from him.

You just gotta kiss at Mt. Rushmore!

"The Eye of the Needle"

The evening program was informative and inspiring.  Yes, I cried......are you shocked?

I thought Bear County USA may be hokey, but I must say, it was fabulous...

 ....especially the baby bears.

Here is some of the gang, standing vertically, whilst in vertigo at the Cosmos.  This place trips you out.  Water runs uphill and you quickly loose your confidence in your understanding of physics.

Sugared-up Posterity.  

Another potential dud, was Reptile Garden.  It turned out to be one of the highlights.  The Garden's were unique and gorgeous.

The Crocodile show, however, stole the day!!!  This guy truly was in danger.  He just kept on educating us on how to wrestle and aligator, even though this giant Croc was inching closer and closer.  It finally did lunge and he got away by inches!!!  There is no way this guy makes enough money for what he does.

A quick stop to cool off turned into a major event.

Knowing that his State swim meet was the next week, Jaxen took a GIANT lap across the lake.

As if there was ever a doubt, Papa Ed once again confirmed himself as the coolest grandpa ever.  It truly was nail bitter watching him help Elijah up the rock.

After a pep-talk, Elijah took the plunge!

Next thing you knew, everyone (except Mom) was upping the anti.

 Due to a torrential rain storm, our tent camping compadres had a sleep over the last night.

On a sad note.  While we were gone, my poor mom fell.  She was reaching to turn on the hose to water my plants when she lost her balance and went head first into the bricks.  She needed 100 stitches, and due to her allergy to local anesthetic, she did it all by self hypnosis.  The ER doc gave her the "Animal Award" for the night.   Never a dull moment with this bunch.

Wyoming Ranch

We feel like the luckiest people in the world that our good friends, the Cox's, invite us to their ranch each summer.  It truly is a magical place in Wyoming's Star Valley.  It is a working ranch, stocked with horses, cattle, trout, moose, elk, giant cranes and a resident bald eagle.

 They even invite up our extended family.  Ed and Marty finally got to experience the place that we have fallen in love with.

Matt was wowing us with his card tricks, so Elijah decided to get in on the action.  "Is this your card?" became the joke of the trip.  Everyone played along and he truly thought his tricks were tricky..... I love that boy!

 Nedra grew up on a ranch and is an honest-to-goodness cowgirl.  She is so patient in teaching my kids to ride.  My heart just pounds with excitment that they have this opportunity.

 FIRE ARMS GALORE!!!  It's strange how things that would freak me out in other circumstances, seem so normal at the ranch.

 Elijah lost interest after a while.

There is a natural spring that is so crystal clean and pure that you can drink straight from it.

Momma Moose and her baby, playing in the lake.

 Madeline and I built a fairy town.  Here is the fairy garden, (Madeline's idea)

It is breath-taking and the kind of re-charge we needed to kick off the summer!